Display apparatus

ABSTRACT

A display apparatus is provided. The display apparatus includes a front side that is exposed the outside. A refractor or set of refractors is positioned so as to minimize the appearance of a shield member to a viewer, thus causing a non-display region of the display apparatus to appear to be smaller than its actual size, thus increasing a size of an image display region of the display apparatus.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 and 35 U.S.C. 365 to KoreanPatent Application No. 10-2009-0020937 (filed in Korea on Mar. 11,2009), the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

The present disclosure relates to a display apparatus.

2. Background

Generally, a display apparatus, such as for example, a television or acomputer monitor, displays still or moving images. High-definition,large-scale display apparatuses such as, for example, liquid crystaldisplays (LCDs) and plasma display panels (PDPs), may provide improveddisplay characteristics. It would be desirable to reduce the width of afront edge portion of such a display, on which an image is notdisplayed, so as to increase screen size without increasing the overallsize of the display module.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The embodiments will be described in detail with reference to thefollowing drawings in which like reference numerals refer to likeelements wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a display apparatus according toan embodiment as broadly described herein.

FIG. 2 is an exploded rear perspective view of the display apparatusshown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view taken along line I-I′ of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 illustrates the principle of a concave lens.

FIG. 5 illustrates the principle of a convex lens.

FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary Fresnel lens according to an embodimentas broadly described herein.

FIG. 7 is a partial sectional view of a front panel of a displayapparatus according to an embodiment as broadly described herein.

FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view of the front panel shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 illustrates an optical phenomenon at a front panel of a displayapparatus that includes an optical path changing part, or refractor,according to an embodiment as broadly described herein.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the display apparatus shown in FIG. 9,illustrating the front panel as viewed by a viewer.

FIG. 11 illustrates an optical phenomenon at a front panel of a displayapparatus that includes an optical path changing part, or refractor,according to another embodiment as broadly described herein.

FIG. 12 illustrates an optical phenomenon at a front panel of a displayapparatus that includes optical path changing parts, or refractors,according to another embodiment as broadly described herein.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the display apparatus shown in FIG. 12,illustrating the front panel as viewed by a viewer.

FIG. 14 illustrates an optical phenomenon at a front panel of a displayapparatus that includes optical path changing parts, or refractors,according to another embodiment as broadly described herein.

FIG. 15 illustrates an optical phenomenon at a front panel of a displayapparatus that includes an optical path changing part, or refractor,according to another embodiment as broadly described herein.

FIG. 16 illustrates an optical path changing part, or refractor,according to another embodiment as broadly described herein.

FIG. 17 illustrates an optical phenomenon exhibited when an opticalchanging part, or refractor, is disposed at the front panel of thedisplay apparatus shown in FIG. 16.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made to various embodiments, examples of which areillustrated in the accompanying drawings.

The exemplary display apparatus 10 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 may include adisplay module such as, for example, a thin flat panel display module,which may include, for example, liquid crystal display (LCD), a plasmadisplay panel (PDP), an organic light emitting device (OLED), or anyother display module capable of displaying images as appropriate.

The display apparatus 10 may include a display module 14 configured todisplay images, a transparent front panel 11 disposed at the front sideof the display module 14, a supporting member 13 that fixes the displaymodule 14 to the rear side of the front panel 11, a back cover 15configured to cover and protect the supporting member 13 and the displaymodule 14, and a shield member 12 configured to cover edges of the backcover 15, the front surface of the supporting member 13, and edgeportions of the display module 14 so as to prevent these elements frombeing seen by a viewer through the front panel 11.

In certain embodiments, the back cover 15 may include inner and outercover members 151 and 152 as shown in FIG. 3. In alternativeembodiments, the back cover 15 may include a single cover member. Theshield member 12 may be an opaque thin sheet capable of blocking light,such as, for example, a black film. A region through which an imagesignal cannot be transmitted due to the shield member 12 may be referredto as a ‘bezel’. As shown in FIG. 2, the shield member 12 may have arectangular strip shape having a predetermined width corresponding tothe edges of the front panel 11.

As shown in FIG. 3, the shield member 12 may be attached to the rearside of the front panel 11 by an adhesive member or other means asappropriate. In alternative embodiments, the shield member 12 may bespaced apart from the rear side of the front panel 11, or may beattached to the front side of an assembly of the display module 14 andthe supporting member 13, and then, the assembly may be coupled to therear side of the front panel 11 by using an additional coupling part 16that maintains the assembly spaced apart from the rear side of the frontpanel 11. If the shield member 12 is spaced apart from the rear side ofthe front panel 11, the shield member 12 may appear narrower than itsactual size when viewed through the front panel.

The additional coupling part 16 may have a rectangular strip shapehaving a predetermined width and thickness correspond to the supportingmember 13 or the shield member 12. The additional coupling part 16 maybe made of a transparent material and may be adhered to the rear surfaceof the front panel 11 and to the front surface of the shield member 12by a transparent adhesive. In this manner, the shield member 12 may beviewed by the user through the additional coupling part 16, so that theshield member 12 appears narrower than its actual size.

In alternative embodiments, the shield member 12 may be formed insidethe front panel 11 as part of the front panel 11. As discussed above,the shield member 12 may be opaque so that light or images cannot betransmitted therethrough to the front side of the display apparatus 10.Thus, the term ‘opaque’ is used herein to denote a light blocking statein which a viewer cannot see an image in the region of the shield member12 or an object or component disposed directly behind the shield member12. The term ‘opaque’ is not used herein to denote complete blocking oflight.

The front panel 11 may be formed of an injection-molded transparentplastic, tempered glass, or other material as appropriate. For example,the front panel 11 may be formed of a plastic such as poly carbonate(PC) or polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA).

The supporting member 13 may be brought into contact with the rear sideof the front panel 11 by a coupling part such as, for example, anadhesive member, with the supporting member 13 spaced inwardly fromedges of the rear side of the front panel 11. The size of the front edgeof the back cover 15 may be less than or equal to the size of the rearedge of the front panel 11 so that the edges of the back cover 15 fallwithin the confines of the edges of the front panel 11, so that only thefront panel 11 is exposed to the viewer to make the front side of thedisplay apparatus 10 seem bigger.

The region (A) shown in FIG. 3 is a characteristic region of the displayapparatus 10. A region formed by the shield member 12 and denoted withblack color may be defined as a non-display region (P), and a regionthat falls within the inner periphery of the shield member 12 may bedefined as an image display region (Q). The inner edges of thenon-display region (P) are located inward from the outer front edges ofthe display module 14.

In other words, the distance (h1) between the center of the displaymodule 14 and the inner edges of the non-display region (P) is less thanthe distance(h2) between the center of the display module 14 and thefront edges of the display module 14. Therefore, the area of the imagedisplay region (Q) is less than the area of the display module 14.However, in alternative embodiments, the inner edges of the non-displayregion (P) may be aligned with the front edges of the display module 14so that the area of the image display region (Q) is substantially equalto the area of the display module 14.

A brief explanation of the basic principle of lenses and how an image isfocused by a lens will now be provided with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

As shown in FIG. 4, an object (M) is placed in front of a concave lensL1 and an image (m) of the object (M) is focused. When (f) denotes thedistance (focal length) between the concave lens L1 and the focal pointof the concave lens L1, (a) denotes the distance between the concavelens L1 and the object (M), and (b) denotes the distance between theconcave lens L1 and the image (m) of the object (M), the following focallength equation may be applied.

1/a+1/b=1/f

If the object (M) is placed within the focal length (f) of the concavelens L1, an upright virtual image (m) smaller than the object (M) isformed at a position between the object (M) and the concave lens L1.Therefore, to an observer seeing the upright virtual image (m), it seemsthat the object (M) is smaller than its actual size. For example, a beamfrom the upper end of the object (M) is refracted upward as indicated bya solid-line arrow while the beam passes through the concave lens L1. Inthis case, an observer sees the beam as if the beam travels along anoptical path indicated by a dashed-line in a state where the concavelens L1 does not exist.

As shown in FIG. 5, an object (M) is placed in front of a convex lensL2, and an image (m) of the object (M) is focused. As in FIG. 4, (f)denotes the distance (focal length) between the convex lens L2 and thefocal point of the convex lens L2, (a) denotes the distance between theconvex lens L2 and the object (M), and (b) denotes the distance betweenthe convex lens L2 and the image (m) of the object (M). As with theconcave lens L1, if the object (M) is placed within the focal length (f)of the convex lens L2, an upright virtual image (m) is formed. Those ofordinary skill in the related art will understand how an image isfocused according to the kinds of lenses used and the position of anobject. Thus, further description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 6 is a side view of an exemplary Fresnel lens which may reduce thethickness of a convex lens while providing the same function. A Fresnellens may be fabricated by cutting an upright convex lens into aplurality of horizontal segments (parallel with the direction of anincident light beam) and moving the segments horizontally. Thereafter,the rounded refraction surface (having a convex lens profile) of eachsegment is flattened into a prism shape. By flattening the roundedsurface of the convex lens in this way, the chromatic aberration andthickness of the Fresnel lens may be reduced. A concave Fresnel lens maybe fabricated in a similar manner.

Referring to FIG. 6, an edge part of a concave lens corresponding to aregion (l) may be divided into a plurality of segments. Thereafter, therounded refraction surfaces (having a concave lens profile) of thesegments may be respectively flattened into a prism shape, and the prismsegments may be arranged on a plane in a row. In alternativeembodiments, the prism segments may retain the same profile as therounded refraction surface of the concave lens, and not be flattened. Inthe current embodiment, a prism array is formed by the plurality ofprism segments arranged on a plane in a row. The refraction surfaces ofthe prism segments of the prism array have different oblique angles. Inthe embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the oblique angles of the refractionsurfaces of the prism segments increase from the inside to the outsideof the prism array. The oblique angles are angles measured between therefraction surfaces and a vertical plane in FIG. 6.

In this way, a concave Fresnel lens may provide the same effects asthose of a corresponding concave lens, but with lower chromaticaberration caused by different wavelengths of light, and with aperipheral thickness that is less than that of the corresponding concavelens.

A concave Fresnel lens, which includes a prism array region such as theabove-described prism array, may be operated according to the sameprinciple as that of a typical concave lens. That is, light passingthrough the prism array region is refracted outward and diffused. If anobject is placed at the left side of the concave Fresnel lens, anobserver sees an upright virtual image that is smaller than the actualsize of the object. An actual path of a light beam passing through theprism array region will now described.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, an optical path changing part111, or refractor, is disposed at a front edge portion of a front panel11. The optical path changing part 111, or refractor, is an optical unitconfigured to refract light incident on the rear side of the front panel11 toward the front side of the front panel 11 so as to direct the lightin a predetermined direction. In other words, the optical path changingpart 111, or refractor, changes an optical path, so that light incidenton the rear side of the front panel 11 toward the front side of thefront panel 11 may be condensed to a point or diffused outwardly.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the optical path changing part111, or refractor, is configured to diffuse light outwardly so that ashield member 12 disposed at the rear side of the front panel 11 appearsnarrower than its actual size. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 and 8,a prism array fabricated based on the principle of a Fresnel lens asdescribed in FIG. 6 may be employed as an exemplary optical pathchanging part 111, or refractor, that is capable of changing an opticalpath. Therefore, in the following description, the term ‘prism array’may be used to refer to the optical path changing part 111, orrefractor.

A plurality of concentric ridges and grooves may be formed on thesurface of a Fresnel lens. However, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7and 8, a plurality of linear ridges and grooves are formed in directionsparallel with edge surfaces of the front panel 11.

In more detail, as shown in FIG. 8, a linear prism array is provided atedge portions of the front panel 11, that is, at upper, lower, left, andright edge portions of the front panel 11. The width of the prism array(that is, the width of the optical path changing part 111, or refractor)may be adjusted based on how much is necessary to make the outer edgeportions of a shield member 12 appear narrower. An axis, which passesthrough the center of curvature of a concave lens used to form the prismarray, is parallel with the front side of the front panel 11 and isclose to or within an image display region (Q).

The optical path changing part 111, or refractor, may be formed in anon-display region (P), and in particular, at edge portions of the frontpanel 11. The shield member 12 is disposed on the rear side of the frontpanel 11 to define the non-display region (P). In the embodiment shownin FIGS. 7 and 8, the shield member 12 is in contact with the rear sideof the front panel 11. However, the shield member 12 may be spaced apartfrom the rear side of the front panel 11. This may be done by attachingthe shield member 12 to front edge portions of a display module 14(refer to FIG. 2) and positioning the display module 14 at apredetermined distance from the front panel 11. As the distance betweenthe shield member 12 and the optical path changing part 111, orrefractor, is increased, magnification is also increased. Therefore,since a viewer views an image of the shield member 12 that is smallerthan the actual size of the shield member 12, the shield member 12appears narrower to the viewer.

In FIGS. 7 and 8, the optical path changing part 111, or refractor, hasa shape (an embossed shape) that protrudes from the front side of thefront panel 11. However, the optical path changing part 111, orrefractor, may be formed on the front side of the front panel 11 in agroove shape (an engraved shape). That is, the non-display region (P) ofthe front panel 11 and the front end of the optical path changing part111, or refractor, may be placed on the same plane. The optical pathchanging part 111, or refractor, may be formed as part of the frontpanel 11 (that is, the optical path changing part 111, or refractor, andthe front panel 11 may be formed in one piece), or the optical pathchanging part 111, or refractor, may be provided as a separate part andattached to the front side of the front panel 11. For example, a filmhaving the structure of the optical path changing part 111, orrefractor, may be attached to the front side of the front panel 11. Inalternative embodiments, an anti-reflection (AR) film (not shown) may beattached to the front side of the front panel 11 to reduce reflectanceand increase transmittance of the display screen.

The manner in which the shield member 12 is imaged by the viewer's eyewill now be explained for the case in which the shield member 12 isspaced apart from the rear side of the front panel 11 with reference toFIGS. 9 and 10.

In the case of a concave Fresnel lens, the size of an image of an objectis reduced as the distance between the object and the concave Fresnellens is increased. Thus, the size of an image perceived by a viewer maybe adjusted based on the distance (k) between the shield member 12 andthe front panel 11. That is, as the distance (k) between the shieldmember 12 and the front panel 11 is increased, the size of an image ofthe shield member 12 may be reduced.

In FIG. 9, optical paths of light traveling from an upper end of theshield member 12, and an image of the shield member 12 are illustrated.As shown in FIG. 9, light diverges from the upper end of the shieldmember 12, and the light diverging toward the front panel 11 isrefracted as it enters the front panel 11. In detail, the light isrefracted as it passes through an interface between different mediums(that is, the interface between air and the front panel 11). Then, thelight is refracted again and diffused as it passes through the opticalpath changing part 111, or refractor, corresponding to a concave lens.Finally, a viewer sees a virtual image 121 of the shield member 12 thatis smaller than the actual size of the shield member 12. As shown inFIG. 9, it seems to a viewer that the upper end of the shield member 12is lowered. Exemplary light beams arriving at the viewer's eye areindicated by thick arrows in FIG. 9, and the virtual image 121 of theshield member 12 is focused on a cross point of the light beamsindicated by the thick arrows. The virtual image 121 is focused betweenthe virtual image 121 and the front panel 11.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, the thickness (t) of the front panel11 may be assumed to be fixed. Thus, the position of the upper end ofthe virtual image 121 may be determined by the distance (k) between theshield member 12 and the front panel 11. That is, as the distance (k)between the shield member 12 and the front panel 11 increases, the upperend of the virtual image 121 is lowered. Therefore, the width of thenon-display region (P) may seem to be smaller than its actual size. As aresult, the area of the image display region (Q) may appear to be largerthan its actual size. In the case where the shield member 12 is incontact with the rear side of the front panel 11, it may seem that thewidth of the non-display region (P) is less reduced when compared to thecase where the shield member 12 is spaced apart from the rear side ofthe front panel 11.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, since the optical pathchanging part 111, or refractor, is formed only in regions correspondingto the outer edge portions of the shield member 12, it may seem to aviewer that the outer edge portions of the shield member 12 are movedinward toward the center of the display apparatus 10, as shown in FIG.10.

Referring to FIG. 11, an optical path changing part 111, or refractor,in accordance with another embodiment as broadly described herein may beprovided at the rear side of a front panel 11.

This embodiment may provide effects similar to those of the embodimentshown in FIGS. 9 and 10. However, since the optical path changing part111, or refractor, shown in FIG. 11 is provided at the rear side of thefront panel 11, the front surface of the front panel 11 that is exposedto the viewer may be smooth and flat. Therefore, the exterior of thefront panel 11 may be smoother compared to the previous embodiment.

However, when the optical path changing part 111, or refractor, isprovided at the rear side of the front panel 11, the distance betweenthe optical path changing part 111 and the front panel 11 is reduced bythe thickness (t) of the front panel 11 as compared with the previousembodiment. In this embodiment, if the shield member 12 is disposed incontact with the rear side of the front panel 11, a virtual image is notformed because the distance between the object and the lens isessentially zero. Therefore, in the this embodiment, the shield member12 may be positioned spaced apart from the rear side of the front panel11, as shown in FIG. 11.

FIG. 12 is a schematic view of an optical phenomenon observed at a frontpanel of a display apparatus that includes optical path changing parts,or refractors, according to another embodiment, and FIG. 13 is aperspective view of the display apparatus, illustrating the front panelas viewed by a viewer.

Referring to FIGS. 12 and 13, optical path changing parts 111, orrefractors, are respectively provided at positions corresponding toinner and outer edge regions of a shield member 12. Thus, inner andouter edges of a non-display region (P) may appear to be reduced insize.

Unlike the previous embodiments, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 12,optical paths pass by both the outer and inner edges of the shieldmember 12, as indicated by the arrows.

In detail, the optical path changing parts 111, or refractors, may beprovided on the front side of the front panel 11 in the form of a prismarray, at positions corresponding to an outer edge region (B) and aninner edge region (C) of the shield member 12. The optical path changingparts 111, or refractors, may be provided in a front edge region (A) ofthe front panel 11 corresponding to the non-display region (P) (see, forexample, the black region shown in FIG. 1). In the embodiment shown inFIG. 12, the shield member 12 is spaced apart from the rear side of thefront panel 11.

Specifically, a front portion of a display module 14 that is alignedwith the inner edge of the shield member 12 corresponds to a boundarybetween the non-display region (P) and the image display region (Q). Inthis way, since the optical path changing parts 111, or refractors, areprovided at outer and inner edges of the non-display region (P), theappearance of the non-display region (P) is contracted and theappearance of the area of the image display region (Q) is increased.Therefore, it may appear to a viewer that the size of a screen of thedisplay apparatus having optical path changing part(s), or refractor(s),as embodied and broadly described herein may be relatively large ascompared with the size of a screen of a display apparatus having thesame size display module, but not having such optical path changingpart(s), or refractor(s). This effect is illustrated in the perspectiveview shown in FIG. 13.

FIG. 14 is a schematic view of an optical phenomenon at a front panel ofa display apparatus that includes optical path changing parts, orrefractors, according to another embodiment as broadly described herein.The display apparatus shown in FIG. 14 has essentially the samestructure as the display apparatus shown in FIG. 12, except that, in theembodiment shown in FIG. 14, optical path changing parts 111, orrefractors, are provided on the rear side of the front panel 11. In thecase where the optical path changing parts 111, or refractors, areprovided on the rear side of the front panel 11, the installationstructure of the shield member 12 is essentially the same as thatexplained with respect to FIG. 11. Thus, a description thereof will beomitted.

FIG. 15 is a schematic view of an optical phenomenon at a front panel ofa display apparatus that includes an optical path changing part, orrefractor, according to another embodiment as broadly described herein.The display apparatus shown in FIG. 15 has substantially the samestructure as the display apparatus shown in FIG. 14, except that, in theembodiment shown in FIG. 15, an optical path changing part 111, orrefractor, is continuously formed from an outer edge region to an inneredge region of an inner side of the front panel 11 corresponding to theshield member 12.

That is, a prism array is disposed on the inner side of the front panel11 from the outer edge region to the inner edge region of the shieldmember 12, and another prism array is disposed in a direction from theinner edge region to the outer edge region of the shield member 12, sothat the prism arrays are symmetric and meet each other at a centerportion of the shield member 12. Therefore, a virtual image 121 of theshield member 12 may be smaller when compared to the embodiment shown inFIG. 14.

FIGS. 16 and 17 illustrate an optical path changing part, or refractor,and an optical phenomenon that occurs when the optical changing part isdisposed at a front panel of a display apparatus according to anotherembodiment as broadly described herein. The structure of an optical pathchanging part 112, or refractor, shown in FIG. 16 is slightly different;however, the optical path changing part 112, or refractor, providesessentially the same effects as the optical path changing parts, orrefractors, of the previous embodiments. That is, the optical pathchanging part 112, or refractor, of the embodiment shown in FIG. 16 hasa single prism shape with a plurality of refraction surfaces.

In more detail, as shown in FIG. 16, a region (n) of a concave lens tobe used for a front panel 11 is selected, and the selected region (n) isdivided into a plurality of segments. Then, respective refractionsurfaces of the segments are approximately flattened (or linearized).Until this point, the procedures are substantially the same as theprocedures for forming the optical path changing parts 111, orrefractors, of the previous embodiments.

Next, a single prism is formed, which includes the approximatelyflattened refraction surfaces of the selected region (n). The region (n)may be established by a vertical line and a horizontal line that passthrough the refraction surface of the concave lens. Then, a prism 112having an approximately triangular shape may be obtained based on atransverse tangent line and a longitudinal tangent line that passthrough the refraction surface of the concave lens. A refraction surface112 a of three surfaces of the prism 112 through which light istransmitted is machined so that the refraction surface 112 a may bechanged from a rounded surface to a multiply bent surface. In this way,the refraction surface 112 a of the prism 112 is constituted bycontinuously arranging a plurality of approximately flattened surfaces(obtained by machining the refraction surface of the concave lens) so asto reduce the chromatic aberration of the prism 112 caused by differentwavelengths of light. The angles between a vertical surface and theplurality of approximately flattened surfaces of the refraction surface112 a of the prism 112 increase as they approach the upper end of theprism 112 in FIG. 16. In alternative embodiments, the refraction surface112 a of the prism 112 may have substantially the same curvature as therefraction surface of the concave lens.

The concave lens, which may be used for forming the optical pathchanging part 111, or refractor, having a prism array shape, or theoptical path changing part 112, or refractor, having a single prismshape, may have an elongated shape corresponding to the horizontaland/or vertical width of the front panel 11. In other words, alongitudinal axis of the concave lens (passing through the center ofcurvature of the concave lens) is parallel with the front side of thefront panel 11, and a radial axis of the concave lens passing throughthe center of curvature of the concave lens is perpendicular to thefront side of the front panel 11. In addition, a radial axis of theconcave lens passing through the center of the concave lens is alignedwith at least a position closer to the inner edge of a non-displayregion (P) than the outer edge of the non-display region (P), or aposition close to an image display region (Q) or located within theimage display region (Q).

Referring to FIG. 17, the optical path changing part 112, or refractor,having a prism shape as described above may be provided as part of thefront side or rear side of the front panel 11. In alternativeembodiments, the optical path changing part 112, or refractor, may beprovided in the form of a thin sheet including a film that is attachedto the front panel 11. The optical path changing part 112, or refractor,may be provided at a position corresponding to an outer edge regionand/or an inner edge region of the shield member 12. In the displayapparatus including the optical path changing part 112, or refractor, asshown in FIG. 17, a viewer may experience a similar reduction effect ofa non-display region as in the above-described embodiments. Thus, anoptical path formed in the case in which the optical path changing part112, or refractor, having a prism shape is used, and formation of animage of the shield member 12 will not be explained.

As described in the embodiments, an optical path changing part 111/112,or refractor, may be provided on the front or rear side of the frontpanel 11, at the outer edge and/or inner edge of the non-display regionP. In addition, although not shown in the accompanying drawings, theoptical path changing part 111/112, or refractor, may be provided onboth the front side and rear side of the front panel 11. That is, anoptical path changing part 111/112, or refractor, may be provided on thefront side of the front panel 11, and another optical path changing part111/112, or refractor, may be provided on the rear side of the frontpanel 11 in a case in which the two optical path changing parts 111/112,or refractors, are symmetric with respect to a vertical plane, so as toincrease the effect of reducing the width of the non-display region P.

Therefore, a display area may appear to be larger without physicallyincreasing the size of the image display region of the displayapparatus. That is, by making the width of the non-display region appearnarrower, the image display region may appear relatively larger.Additionally, by actually enlarging the boundary between the imagedisplay region and the non-display region, the size of the screen of thedisplay apparatus may be increased.

The embodiment of FIG. 9 includes an optical path changing part, orrefractor, on a front side of the front panel, and the embodiment ofFIG. 11 includes an optical path changing part, or refractor, on a rearside of the front panel. In alternative embodiments, the embodiments ofFIGS. 9 and 11 may be combined so that the front panel includes a firstoptical path changing part, or refractor, on its front side, and asecond optical path changing part, or refractor, on its rear side.Similarly, the embodiment of FIG. 12 includes a pair of optical pathchanging parts, or refractors on a front side of the front panel, andthe embodiment of FIG. 14 includes a pair of optical path changingparts, or refractors, on a rear side of the front panel. In alternativeembodiments, the embodiments of FIGS. 12 and 14 may be combined so thatthe front panel includes a first pair of optical path changing parts, orrefractors, on its front side, and a second pair of optical pathchanging parts, or refractors, on its rear side.

Embodiments provide a display apparatus in which a non-display region isconfigured to be seen smaller than its actual size so as to make animage display region seem larger.

In one embodiment, an display apparatus as broadly described herein mayinclude a display module configured to output an image; a transparentfront panel coupled to a front side of the display module and having anexposed edge portion; a shield member disposed at a rear side of thefront panel so as to block an inner component from an outside areaexcept for at least the display module; and a back cover coupled to therear side of the front panel so as to protect the display module,wherein the front panel is defined into an image display regionconfigured to transmit an image output from the display module, and anon-display region having a predetermined width and defined by theshield member along an edge of the image display region, wherein anoptical path changing part is disposed on a front side of the frontpanel at a position corresponding to the non-display region, so as tochange an optical path of light.

In another embodiment, a display apparatus as broadly described hereinmay include a display module configured to output an image; atransparent front panel coupled to a front side of the display moduleand having an exposed edge portion; and a back cover coupled to a rearside of the front panel so as to protect the display module, wherein thefront panel is divided into a transparent region configured to transmitan image output from the display module when the display apparatus isturned on, and an opaque region disposed around the transparent region,wherein an optical path changing part is disposed on a front side of thefront panel at a position corresponding to the opaque region, so as tochange an optical path of light.

In another embodiment, a display apparatus having a flat display moduleas broadly described herein may include an optical unit provided at afront layer placed at a front side of the flat display module.

Any reference in this specification to “one embodiment,” “anembodiment,” “example embodiment,” etc., means that a particularfeature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with theembodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. Theappearances of such phrases in various places in the specification arenot necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Further, when aparticular feature, structure, or characteristic is described inconnection with any embodiment, it is submitted that it is within thepurview of one skilled in the art to effect such feature, structure, orcharacteristic in connection with other ones of the embodiments.

Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number ofillustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerousother modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled inthe art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles ofthis disclosure. More particularly, numerous variations andmodifications are possible in the component parts and/or arrangements ofthe subject combination arrangement within the scope of the disclosure,the drawings and the appended claims. In addition to variations andmodifications in the component parts and/or arrangements, alternativeuses will also be apparent to those skilled in the art.

1. A display apparatus, comprising: a display module configured tooutput an image; a front panel provided at a front side of the displaymodule; a shield layer positioned to a rear of the front panel; a backcover coupled to the rear side of the front panel; and at least oneoptical refractor provided on a front side of the front panel, extendingalong a periphery of the front panel.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein the front panel has an image display area configured to allowtransmission of an image from the display module, and a non-display areaprovided along the periphery of the front panel.
 3. The apparatus ofclaim 2, wherein the non-display area borders an outer peripheral edgeof the image display area.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the atleast one optical refractor overlaps with the shield layer.
 5. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the shield layer blocks outer peripheraledge portions of a plurality of components installed within the displayapparatus from view through the front panel.
 6. The apparatus of claim1, wherein the at least one optical refractor is a prism arraycomprising a plurality of prism segments arranged in rows along an outeredge portion of the front panel.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6, whereinrefraction surfaces of the plurality of prism segments are segments of arounded refraction surface of a concave lens.
 8. The apparatus of claim7, wherein a center of curvature of the concave lens is located outsidethe prism array.
 9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein a center ofcurvature of the concave lens is located close to or within the imagedisplay region.
 10. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein each of theplurality of prism segments has a refraction surface comprising portionof a rounded refraction surface of a concave lens that has beenflattened.
 11. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the prism array isembossed on the front side of the front panel so as to protrude from thefront side of the front panel.
 12. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein theprism array is engraved in the front side of the front panel.
 13. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one optical refractor isprovided as a single unit with the front panel.
 14. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the at least one optical refractor is a thin filmattached to the front panel.
 15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein thefront panel is formed of poly carbonate (PC) or polymethylmethacrylate(PMMA).
 16. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising ananti-reflection film attached to the front side of the front panel. 17.The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at lease one optical refractor hasa single prism shape with a continuous arrangement of a plurality ofsegments of a rounded refraction surface of a concave lens that form arefraction surface thereof.
 18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the atleast one optical refractor has a single prism shape with a plurality ofcontinuously arranged machined segments of a rounded refraction surfaceof a concave lens each having a substantially flat refraction surface.19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the shield member is attached to arear side of the front panel or is spaced apart from the rear side ofthe front panel.
 20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the shieldmember is a thin sheet comprising an opaque film.
 21. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the at least one optical refractor comprises a firstoptical refractor provided on the front side of the front panel, and asecond optical refractor provided on a rear side of the front panel, ata position corresponding to the first optical refractor.
 22. A displayapparatus, comprising: a display module configured to output an image; afront panel provided at a front side of the display module, wherein thefront panel comprises a transparent region configured to transmit animage output by the display module, and an opaque region that borders anouter periphery of the transparent region; a back cover coupled to arear side of the front panel; and an optical refractor provided on afront side of the front panel, at a position corresponding to the opaqueregion of the front panel, so as to change an optical path of lighttransmitted through the front panel.
 23. A display apparatus having aflat display module, wherein the display apparatus includes an opticaldevice comprising at least one optical refractor or at least one lensprovided at a front layer that is positioned at a front side of the flatdisplay module.
 24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the opticaldevice comprises at least one optical refractor, wherein the at leastone optical refractor is a prism array configured to refract lightincident on a rear side of the front layer toward a front side of thefront layer
 25. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the optical devicecomprises at least one lens, wherein the at least one lens is a concaveFresnel lens configured to change an optical path of light transmittedthrough the front layer so as to alter an appearance of a non-displayregion of the front layer.
 26. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein theoptical device is a prism array comprising a plurality of prism segmentsarranged in rows along a periphery of the front layer.
 27. The apparatusof claim 26, wherein the optical device extends linearly from a firstend portion of the front layer to a second end portion of the frontlayer that is opposite the first end portion.
 28. The apparatus of claim27, wherein the optical device extends along a periphery of the frontlayer.
 29. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein a surface of the opticaldevice comprises a plurality of prism segments each having an opticalrefraction surface, wherein the plurality of prism segments are arrangedsequentially along a periphery of the front layer.
 30. The apparatus ofclaim 29, wherein the optical refraction surfaces of the plurality ofprism segments are segments of a rounded surface of a concave lens. 31.The apparatus of claim 30, wherein slopes of the optical refractionsurfaces of the plurality of prism segments are gradually reduced in adirection from an inner peripheral edge of the optical device to anouter peripheral edge of the optical device, the outer peripheral edgeof the optical device corresponding to an outer peripheral edge of thefront layer.
 32. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the opticalrefraction surfaces of the plurality of prism segments flattenedportions of corresponding segments of a rounded surface of a concavelens.
 33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein slopes of the opticalrefraction surfaces of the plurality of prism segments are graduallyreduced in a direction from an inner peripheral edge of the opticaldevice to an outer peripheral edge of the optical device, the outerperipheral edge of the optical device corresponding to an outerperipheral edge of the front layer.
 34. The apparatus of claim 23,wherein the front layer comprises a transparent plate.
 35. The apparatusof claim 34, wherein the optical device is positioned on a front surfaceof the front layer.